The incident happened shortly after 2:30 p.m. after a portion of a metal pier just east of the stage of the popular UW-Madison venue collapsed, sending several people into Lake Mendota.
September 5, 2023
Top Stories
Madison police say community should be ‘on alert’ following severe attack
Officers were dispatched to the area between West Wilson Street and Bedford Street at 3:18 a.m., where they found a woman with “severe signs of physical trauma,” following an apparent violent attack, Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference Sunday.
Research
Tom Still: Climate change heats up interest in nuclear energy
For example, SHINE Technologies in Janesville is looking to use fusion to recycle fissile material from reactors, past and future. Company founder Greg Piefer said climate change can’t wait to be solved by fusion energy, but safe fission energy is possible now. The nuclear engineering programs at UW-Madison are also a part of that research mix.
Higher Education/System
Top party schools in the United States
6. University of Wisconsin
Campus life
Memorial Union hosts Terrace Paintacular
UW-Madison is welcoming students back to campus with a series of events — one of them is quite colorful. As part of Monday’s Terrace Takeover, Wheelhouse Studios hosted a Paintacular. They call it Madison’s largest free group paint event. Wheelhouse offered a free canvas and water colors to anyone who was interested.
Wisconsin Union hosts terrace takeover day at Memorial Union
Ahead of the start of classes at UW-Madison, the Wisconsin Union hosted its annual terrace takeover on Monday at the Memorial Union. Attendees enjoyed live music, stand-up paddle boarding, rock climbing, lawn games, food and more.
‘Day-long party’: Wisconsin makes fan experience changes for football games
Wisconsin, like others in the entertainment business, has been looking for ways to sell people on being there for the presentation of the game and not just what’s happening on the field. That’s taking a step up at Camp Randall in 2023, starting with Saturday’s opener against Buffalo.
Jim Dine’s outdoor skull sculpture moved inside Chazen Museum of Art
The large skull sculpture that had been in front of the Chazen Museum of Art on the UW-Madison campus for nine years was moved inside the museum Thursday because of concerns for its preservation.
Pleasant T. Rowland Foundation announces record $1 million gift to the Odyssey Future Fund as a challenge match
The UW Odyssey Project takes a whole family approach to breaking the cycle of generational poverty through access to education, giving adult and youth learners a voice, and increasing confidence through reading, writing, and speaking. The Odyssey Project was co-founded in 2003 by Emily Auerbach, a professor of English at the University of Wisconsin–Madison.
Crime and safety
Pier collapses at UW-Madison Memorial Union Terrace, sending dozens into Lake Mendota
A pier in Lake Mendota just off the University of Wisconsin-Madison Memorial Union Terrance and crowded with between 60 and 80 people collapsed Monday afternoon, causing minor injuries to about two dozen people, police said.
Police hunt for evidence after suspected stranger assault of UW-Madison student
Madison Police detectives on Monday were continuing an investigation into a brutal attack from over the weekend that left a University of Wisconsin-Madison student hospitalized in critical condition.
MPD: Investigation on Attack in Downtown Madison
The Madison Police Department (MPD) is investigating a “brutal” attack that happened around 3:20 Sunday morning on the 500 block of W. Wilson Street. Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a press conference Saturday the female victim was transported to a nearby hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Around 25 people hurt after pier collapses at Memorial Union Terrace
Around 25 people were hurt after a pier collapsed at the Memorial Union Terrace on Labor Day.A UW-Madison Police Department official said the collapse happened around 3 p.m. The official said 60 to 80 people were on the pier at the time.
Residents react to student attack in off-campus neighborhood
People living near the site of an early Sunday morning attack against a UW-Madison student are reevaluating what their security means for the months ahead.
Pier collapses at Memorial Union Terrace, sending dozens into Lake Mendota
A pier collapsed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Memorial Union Terrace Monday afternoon, sending dozens of people into the water. The call for a water rescue came in for multiple area agencies at about 2:35 p.m. Monday.
Heat sends 250 people to get medical help at Badgers game, UWPD says
In what’s believed to be record-setting heat, the UW-Madison Police Department announced 250 people suffered heat-related issues at the first Badger football game of the season.
University of Wisconsin student ‘severely beaten,’ suffers life-threatening wounds: police
Wisconsin police say that a female University of Wisconsin student was “severely beaten” in Madison early Sunday morning, prompting increased police presence in the area.
Wisconsin Union says swimming area “was not staffed” during pier collapse
Nicole Mitchell, who was swimming nearby, said, “It was really scary. It made a really loud noise at first, and then it was basically a fight or flight response. Me and my friend, who I was swimming, treading water with, we swam as fast as he could back to the dock. Everyone was screaming, looking for their things, making sure their friends were okay.”
UW-Madison student in critical condition after being ‘brutally attacked’
Police say a caller said they found a woman on the 500 block of W. Wilson St. who had been brutally attacked.
‘Severe’ assault on student in downtown Madison prompts police investigation
The Madison Police Department is investigating an assault which occurred late Sunday night near the intersection of W. Wilson Street and Bedford Street.
What to know about UW-Madison’s new student safety app after a violent attack near campus
UWPD launched the safety resource app in August before campus welcomed back new and returning Badgers for the fall semester.
Memorial Union Pier collapses, causes multiple injuries
Multiple witnesses told The Daily Cardinal the pier was overcrowded prior to collapsing Monday afternoon.
Video Shows Pier Collapsing, Plunging Dozens of Students Into Water
Footage of the pier collapse was captured on camera by a bystander as up to 80 students and debris from the broken structure were suddenly swallowed by the water. One victim was hospitalized and others suffered scrapes and bruises during the incident at the Memorial Union Terrace. It is part of the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus, on Lake Mendota.
‘Brutal’ assault of UW student reported downtown Madison, investigation ongoing
The Madison Police Department is investigating a “brutal” attack of a female University of Wisconsin student on the 500 block of W. Wilson St. in Madison early Sunday morning, according to an MPD report.
Major section of Memorial Union dock collapses, plunging students into water
The end section of the L-shaped dock at the Memorial Union on Lake Mendota collapsed around 2:30 p.m. Monday, sending about 60-80 students and members of the public into the water, according to the Madison Fire Department.
Madison police say community should be ‘on alert’ following severe attack
Amid an ongoing investigation, Madison police are knocking on doors in the area of the attack and asking anyone with footage of the area between 2 and 4 a.m. to come forward. A command center has been set up to gather information, conduct interviews and gather evidence. No arrests have been made.
14 people ejected, 6 arrested during Badgers game, UW police say
UW-Madison police reported that 14 people were ejected from Camp Randall Stadium and six people were arrested during Saturday’s game between the Badgers and Buffalo.
Community
New Madison Justice Team aims to help transition from jail, prison
Since then, the all-volunteer organization has grown to include more than 80 people with representatives from more than 30 local organizations, from the Black Men Coalition of Dane County, to the Christ Presbyterian Church, to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Odyssey Project, which provides low-income and formerly incarcerated adults access to accredited English courses.
Health
How hospitals can help patients prep for appointments
Working on question lists does not require a trained coach, however. A family member or friend can be a helpful guide to preparing for a visit, as the process of making a question list can decrease worry and increase a patient’s sense of control. In fact, there are various methods to brainstorm, clarify, and organize a question list, and anyone can find frameworks to navigate their medical decisions, including the Ottawa decision guides, the University of Wisconsin Surgery’s Best Case/Worst Case framework, or our own pre-appointment question list.
Rising vaccine exemption rate among Wisconsin students raises concern
Dr. James Conway, a pediatric infectious diseases specialist at UW Health, said concern about outbreaks grows when vaccination rates drop below 90%. That’s because no vaccine is 100% effective, and some people can’t get vaccines.
Athletics
Polzin: Meet Wisconsin football’s ‘most interesting man in the world’
The man with his toes in the sand is getting strange looks from the families trying to enjoy some beach time. Kids are running around and swimming, their parents basking in the sun while sneaking in a little rest and relaxation. Meanwhile, he’s by himself and in his own world.
Like ‘a bad frat party’: Fans take Wisconsin to task for Camp Randall speaker volume
A high volume level from the stadium speakers was one of the most frequent complaints aired by fans during and after Saturday’s 38-17 victory against Buffalo.
UW Experts in the News
Ex-WI GOP lawmaker fights election misinformation while opposing group insists ‘fraud is rampant’
University of Wisconsin journalism professor Mike Wagner, who is also a misinformation researcher said, “If you trust someone and think they should be the leader of the free world and they tell you, ’you were lied to and this [election] was stolen,’ it’s not surprising that some people believe that.”
Biden makes case for middle class wins on Labor Day as new poll says his 2024 run is in danger
Even if Biden’s age has not affected his ability to do the job, some members of the public may “believe he is not mentally sharp enough or that he lacks the necessary physical stamina,” Barry Burden, a political science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, previously told USA TODAY.
Five billion people will face extreme heat at least a month each year by 2050
Experts consulted on the strengths and limitations of the WBGT metric and the physiological impacts of different levels of heat include Zac Schlader (Indiana University at Bloomington), W. Larry Kenney and Daniel Vecellio (Pennsylvania State University), Jonathan Patz (University of Wisconsin at Madison), George Havenith (Loughborough University, U.K.) and Jason Lee (National University of Singapore).
Obituaries
Severa Austin
She was a Peace Corps volunteer in Liberia; a bureau director for Wisconsin’s Department of Health and Human Services; the executive director of Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin; and a lecturer at the University of Wisconsin, sharing with a new generation of social workers her passion for public policy.
Carolyn Francis Hackler
She worked for UW Madison for many years, including in the History of Medicine Department and as the administrative assistant to the dean of the School of Education. She retired in 1999.
UW-Madison Related
Franne Lee, Tony Winner Who Also Costumed Coneheads, Dies at 81
Ms. Lee was studying painting at the University of Wisconsin, her daughter said, when she discovered her love of theater and costume design.
Bucky joins up with Milwaukee bobblehead museum in ‘Jump Around’ bobbleheads
Bucky’s very familiar with jumping around, but now he bobbles around too.
FBI releases age-progressed photos of Sterling Hall bombing suspect Leo Burt
The FBI has released new photos of what Leo Burt might look like at about 75 years old. Burt is the only suspect in the bombing of Sterling Hall at UW-Madison five decades ago who was never apprehended.